Professor Evan Hunt

The only equine spa on the market which is fully endorsed and backed by equine hydrotherapy pioneer - Professor Evan hunt

Professor Evan Hunt MVSc, PhD, G. Dip.Ed (Tert), University of Sydney Orange, Australia.

After developing an interest in racehorses and their problems as a child while following the coat tails of hi local veterinary practitioner Evan completed his veterinary degree at Sydney University in 1996 and took positions in rural NSW.

For four years he was located at Wagga Wagga Agricultural College, responsible for livestock health teaching and veterinary supervision of the large Arabian horse stud. During this time he completed his Masters degree which then led to a return to Sydney to complete his Doctorate looking at the way nutrition influenced how liver reacts to drugs and poisons.

Missing the hands on veterinary aspect of farm animals and horses Evan moved to Orange in 1973 to head up the livestock teaching team at the newly established Orange Agricultural College which later became a campus of the University of Sydney. He developed the horse management teaching program and facilities based around equestrian sports and racing where horses were bred on farm and taken through to the peformance product.

Dealing with anything up to 200 horses on College at any one time he saw many types of the inevitable injuries that horses seem to enjoy creating to test the minds of their owners and attending veterinarians. His research base and enquiring mind meant he was prepared to look at old and new ways of injury treatment. An early breakthrough was his research into the use of a new technology bandage called BIOBAND which was used to cover wounds and contained the antibacterial compound Triclosan, found in many hand washes and toothpaste. The rate of wound healing was found to increase markedly and more importantly bandages only needed to be changed every four days. BIOBAND is now used routinely in all equine practices in Australia and now available in the UK.

For the last four years of his career before retiring in 2001 as Associate Professor from University of Sydney-Orange, Evan researched the development and effectiveness of spa bath hydrotherapy for horses. That research led to the commercialisation of spa baths and the incorporation of controlled temperature cold therapy for improved healing of lower leg injuries of horses. He has been instrumental in the further refinement of spa development and promotion of the benefits since his retirement.

In addition to his academic role at Orange Evan ran a farm breeding and racing thoroughbred horses and conducting a performance recorded composite meat sheep stud.

During his career he has published numerous articles associated with horse injury, nutrition and parasite control and co-authored a book on Horse Behaviour and Restraints.